NEW YORK, NY- June 13, 2014 – As part of New York Energy Week, The Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute at the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College is presenting a conference,“ Energy, Money & Law: Investment and Legal Strategies for Advanced Energy Performance in Real Estate” on June 19. The event will be presented in partnership with Associated Renewable, the energy consulting and carbon management company, and held at the law offices of Hodgson Russ LLP, 1540 Broadway, New York City.

The demand for more socially responsible use of energy resources has led to the question: What can be done to retrofit or build commercial structures that are more energy efficient, especially in view of new legal requirements at the local, state and national levels? Recognizing that cost is at the core of every decision to invest in energy efficiency, this conference will provide perspectives on the new energy landscape and address innovative financing, legal and tax strategies for creating advanced energy performance in the real estate sector.

“Smart policy can help to close the gap between public policy and private interest by stimulating a market for financing energy efficiency, which presents multiple opportunities for investors to mitigate climate-related risks within their portfolios while earning attractive returns,” stated Jack S. Nyman, Executive Director of the Institute.

In 2012, nearly 40 percent of the energy in the United States, about 40 quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs), was consumed by commercial and multifamily residential buildings, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information.

Roughly 30 states have renewable portfolio standards for energy, ranging from modest voluntary goals to more aggressive requirements, according to a recent report in the New York Times. In May 2014, Barclays downgraded its corporate bond outlook for the entire U.S. electric-utility sector because of analyst concerns about the industry’s internal resistance to change, and the growing competition that it faces from the increasingly viable alternative of solar plus storage.

Nyman also says thatunderstanding cost, legal, policy and tax issues is vital to accelerating energy efficiency. The development of efficiency standards, building codes and energy disclosure requirements is driving the adoption of sustainability agendas—for example, New York City’s PlaNYC initiative and the global nonprofit Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

Keynote speakerScott Sidell, CEO of First Sustainable, LLC, will focus on conceiving and implementing strategies for developing financing for sustainable projects. Robert F. Lurie, Executive Vice President and CFO of New York Power Authority, will provide a second keynote address. Other speakers and panelists include: Ron Herbst, Director, Energy & Sustainability, at Deutsche Bank; Bob Wyman, Member of the Technical Staff, Google, Inc.; Michael Likosky, Founder, Center on Law & Public Finance at New York University; Ellen Sinreich, Founder and President, Green Edge LLC; and Brian Farnen, General Counsel at the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority.

The conference will cover:

A close look at financing sources for energy projects; the scope of the projects they are financing; and under which terms and conditions.

Clarification of the statutory and regulatory environments that are shaping energy projects and their impacts on building retrofits and new construction, as well as significant changes in energy-efficiency requirements.

An understanding of the national, regional and local requirements of both the financial and legal landscapes of energy projects.

An awareness of emerging trends in tax and energy, what changes may be next, and how the law is responding to such rapid change.

The Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College offers a wide range of educational and research opportunities to broadly address the needs of the real estate industry. The Institute is part of the Zicklin School of Business, the largest accredited collegiate school of business in the United States, and offers professional education courses and workshops to train current practitioners, as well as the next generation of real estate professionals, helping them succeed in, and contribute to, a dynamic and fast-evolving marketplace. As Executive Director of The Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute, Jack S. Nyman leads operations, strategic planning and industry partnering; and guides professional development and continuing education programming, topical research, symposia and public events. Under his direction, the Institute has achieved national recognition as an industry provided of cutting edge programs to inform real estate asset managers on cost effective strategies for portfolio optimization. Individuals, academics, students, corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies all benefit from the programs offered by the Institute.

About Baruch College:

Baruch College is a senior college in the City University of New York (CUNY) with a total enrollment of more than 17,000 students, who represent 160 countries and speak more than 100 languages. Ranked among the top 15% of U.S. colleges and the No. 5 public regional university, Baruch College is regularly recognized as among the most ethnically diverse colleges in the country. As a public institution with a tradition of academic excellence, Baruch College offers accessibility and opportunity for students from every corner of New York City and from around the world. For more about Baruch College, go to http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/.